With a structural system reminiscent of Shigeru Ban’s Paper Church[2], Architect Li Xianggang[3]‘s Paper-Brick House showcasing at this year’s annual Architecture Biennale[4] in Venice, Italy is a mesmerizing paper fortress. Composed of paper tubes, paper boxes, and adhesive tape (and some metal connections), the materials work together to mimic a brick house. And something about it makes me nostalgic for the cardboard forts of my youth which only required an empty basement, a lot of boxes, and my imagination fully intact.

The theme for this year’s Chinese pavilion was ‘ordinary architecture’, and the way the Paper-Brick house dealt with the theme was heavily influenced by the catastrophic Sichuan earthquake[5] earlier this year. It points out that rapid urban development in China led to buildings and homes of inferior quality, which played a role in thousands of lives lost in the earthquake- and asks how architects can respond to such circumstances.

Although the Paper-House does not necessarily offer an answer, it does prove that careful construction goes a long way, even with an unusual materials list. The house is meant to be a fully-functioning home where people can live, play, and build a sense of community. The floor plan of the house also responds to Chinese culture as it includes an interior courtyard[6], found in traditional Chinese buildings.

Ultimately, Xianggang[3] hopes that the Paper-House emphasizes the importance of sound construction. In a world where new developments seem to pop up daily, quality should not be forgotten. Although it is unlikely we will see paper-house villages in the future, the message is worth considering, and the house itself is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.